Rebel defence allows attack to shine

Cork 2-10 Galway 1-08: Cork avenged the June defeat at the hands of Galway in the finest fashion to win the Duffy Cup and end…

Cork 2-10 Galway 1-08:Cork avenged the June defeat at the hands of Galway in the finest fashion to win the Duffy Cup and end their opponents' 12-year wait for an All-Ireland title. The Rebels won out in the end by five points but their defence played as much a part in this win as their potent attack.

Goalkeeper Aoife Murray was particularly influential with a penalty save and two brilliant stops in the second half as Galway chased the game. Her defenders were similarly miserly as Galway failed to register a score in the last 20 minutes.

In fact, Galway were so restricted from play by their opponents that top points-scorer Jessica Gill got all eight of her points from frees.

Sile Burns grabbed a brace to give the Rebels a sound footing in the first half but Aine Hillary also hit the net to keep Galway int touch at the break with the score at at 2-03 - 1-05.

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The efforts of the Tribeswomen were smothered at every turn after the interval though and they only managed three scores.

At the other end, Rachel Moloney was particularly accurate and ended the game with a personal haul of 0-07 to help guide Cork to their 23rd title.

Clare 208 Offaly 1-10:In the junior Camogie final, an injury-time goal from Clare's Shónagh Enright made it third time lucky for the Banner County who had been beaten in 2006 by Dublin and last year by Derry.

Offaly looked on course to add their misery at halftime thanks largely to Arlene Watkins' personal haul of 1-01.

The Banner County rallied after the break and Laura Linnane's four points closed the gap before Enright's decisive intervention.

Clare goalkeeper Denise Lynch also played her part with two brilliant saves from Claire Nevin and Jean Brady in the second half.